This collection showcases a curated selection of tropical plants chosen for their botanical, cultural, and horticultural significance. Designed to support teaching, outreach, and research, it spans diverse areas of interest, including evolution, ecology, horticulture, and ethnobotany. The collection features representatives from major plant groups, highlighting the rich diversity of tropical flora.

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Our orchid Collection features a diverse array of orchid species and hybrids, each selected for their striking beauty, intricate floral structures, and botanical significance. As one of the largest and most diverse families of flowering plants (Orchidaceae), orchids are found in nearly every ecosystem on Earth, from tropical rainforests to arid deserts. 

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This collection highlights plants that have evolved to live in some of the most forbidding climates on our planet. Unique water-storing capacities and heat- and sun-tolerance tactics are part of the wonder of these xerophytic plants.

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This collection focuses on plants that have evolved to garner their nutrition from their modified leaves. Representing many geographic regions including Connecticut and the East Coast of temperate North America to Borneo and Sumatra, the display highlights a variety of tactics that plants use to obtain the nutrients in flies and other insects.

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Our Magnolia collections showcase several stunning native species that offer beauty, botanical, and ecological value. Featured in this collection are the Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), Southern Magnolia (M. grandiflora), Pyramid Magnolia (M. pyramidata), and Sweetbay Magnolia (M. virginiana). Each of these species brings unique characteristics to the landscape, from distinctive blooms to glossy evergreen foliage. link for images.

The centerpiece of our Oak collection is a majestic White Oak (Quercus alba) estimated to be over 300 years old. This remarkable tree, with its wide canopy and weathered trunk, stands as a living relic of the original coastal hardwood forest that once thrived here.

Alongside it, you’ll find other native oak species that enrich the landscape and support local wildlife, including: Swamp White Oak (Q. bicolor), Pin Oak (Q. palustris), and Bur Oak (Q. macrocarpa). These oaks offer beauty in every season and a powerful connection to the region’s natural history. link for images.

This naturalistic garden including Meadow Garden, Hillside Meadow, and Marsh Hillside demonstrates the ecological design concept showcasing the beauty and value of perennials and grasses. Designed in sweeping drifts, carefully selected plant groupings blend texture, form, and seasonal interest to create a dynamic, low-maintenance landscape.

The garden not only highlights plant diversity but also demonstrates how herbaceous perennials can be artfully used in sustainable, modern garden design. Its engaging layout inspires visitors to explore new ways of using perennials to support biodiversity, reduce resource use, and create resilient, climate-adapted gardens. link for images.

Our Pollinator Garden is a vibrant, ever-changing garden designed to celebrate and showcase the vital relationship between flowering plants and pollinating insects. This dynamic interaction is essential for plant reproduction and biodiversity — and it’s happening right before your eyes.

The garden features a diverse array of nectar- and pollen-rich perennials that provide essential food sources for bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators. In return, these hardworking insects help plants reproduce and spread, supporting entire ecosystems. link for images.

The site of the former rock garden is being transformed into a thriving wetland habitat. Over the past few years, staff and student interns have cleared invasive plants, revealing the site’s natural features and rocks preparing them for restoration.

Now, native ferns, sedges, and perennials are being planted along a stream that flows to the pond, creating a diverse, water-loving habitat garden. The garden highlights the role wetlands play in filtering water, supporting wildlife, and restoring ecological balance.

Visit to see the garden take shape and discover the beauty and value of healthy wetland ecosystems. link for images.

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